Monthly archive

Suggested Reading

 A Grace Disguised

by Gerald Sittser

 

 

 

 In the Name of Jesus

by Henri Nouwen

 

 

 

Leadership is an Art

by Max DePree

 

 

 

What's So Amazing About Grace

by Philip Yancey

StepUp Blog

Step Up In Transition

Submitted by lizzywagner on Wed, 08/24/2011 - 12:36

Wow.  This blog has been dormant for almost six months!  Can we use the excuse of being in transition?  I'm going to go ahead and say "Of course!"  Since we fancy ourselves experts in transition and all...But seriously, we have been in transition. We moved!  We said good bye to our in-the-mountains office in Genessee and are saying hello to our mountain-view office in Lakewood. 

But even though this was just a physical move a few miles down I-70 there has been for me what Willam Bridges in "Transitions: Makes Sense of Life's Changes" describes as "the neutral zone" - the time inbetween - that kicks up all sorts of discombobulated feelings around orientation, relatedness, and purpose.  We had the "what" (or the "where") defined, but I felt a tension around all the things that are more difficult to define: how can we use this new space well?  how will Step Up be the same and different in this new location?  what needs to change and/or stay the same? 

I believe we are honoring those questions and this transition.  And some of the stressful and bewildering feelings are starting to fade.  I am excited about this transition "finishing with a new beginning."

Project I See You

Submitted by lizzywagner on Thu, 02/03/2011 - 12:32

A blog about Lizzy's upcoming trip to La Victoria, Dominican Republic:

I had these visions of writing this reflective, hopefully inspiring blog post about my upcoming trip to the DR with Project I See You. Well, as with most idealism, that came crashing down today when reality set in. I have 12 hours until I have to sleep for a few and wake up on my way to the airport. 7 of which I will be working; oh, yes - and I must pack. And make sure I have my passport. And my daily essentials. And don't forget your bathing suit...and toilet paper.... You get the picture.

Speaking of the essentials though, here are a few of our trip for those that are interested.

- We leave Denver early, early February 4th from Denver and get back late, late February 11th.

- During the week we will be working on handicraft projects, brainstorming ideas, and offering some training in the afternoons. And since I am not crafty!, (ask me about the baby hat I knitted that was too big for my husband's head!), I will be doing some business and financial literacy training with my friend Tammy. And I will also be leading some discussions and teaching on women's health with my friend Angie.

Step Up Steps Up

Submitted by lizzywagner on Sat, 07/17/2010 - 19:01

One of our goals as a Step Up team is to encourage a holistic approach to life.   This includes physical wellness, which has been invaluable in my times of challenge and transition.  Now, I'm not a personal trainer or even a fitness buff, but I am doing what I can to add this element into our organization. 

As part of that, I am committing to being at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, CO at 7am every other Monday morning.  And this is my invitation for you to join me and the few others that have joined me in the last month.  7am is early, but is still cool outside and the last bit of sunrise is beautiful!  

Our next scheduled time is Monday, July 26th.  We will meet at the top at 7am.  Send me an email if you would like to join us for Step Up Steps Up.  More to come...  Lizzy

Step Up "House Lift"

Submitted by BPNewman on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 13:23

Today we did a "House Lift" in Lakewood. About a dozen people put up dry wall, painted walls, cleaned out the yard, removed cement, and generally wanted to bless a family who could use a bit of help.

It was a good and fulfilling day indeed.

Here's what I think: I need to serve more than the people need me to serve. Serving has the ability to keep me humble, invites me to consider others well-being before my own. These are things that don;t come easy to me. I need help in keeping my priorities right.

Here's a Shout Out to Jim of Maynard Home Improvements who spearheaded this effort. Awesome job, Jim! Hopefully we can do many more of these home makeovers in the future.

 

Skydiving

Submitted by lizzywagner on Sun, 05/02/2010 - 15:33

Last Thursday was our third wedding anniversary and it was my turn to come up with a plan. I wanted this one to be memorable, so I signed Dan up for his first skydive. Jumping out of a plane at 90 miles per hour, above 10,000 feet, should be memorable, right? And so I went with cash enough to pay for Dan’s jump and to those that asked me if I wanted to go, I would politely reply, “He**, no.” And use the cash situation as back up.

Even though I was comfortably on the ground the whole time, (my brick-wall strategy worked), something miraculous happened: I actually left the skydiving outfit thinking that one day I might want to give it a whirl. SERIOUSLY? I am still shocked.

As I reflect on how that happened to this Chicken Little, my mind keeps going back to the community that surrounded us for those two hours. People who loved what they do. People who trusted their team. People who had confidence in what they put their faith in...the parachute (at least for the moments of the day when they are falling through the sky). I don’t think I became an adrenaline junky overnight, but I do think I saw something people were experiencing, they joy they had, and I thought: I want to be a part of that.